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Backyard Babies

Anyone who has ever spent more than ten minutes talking to me knows I love Great Danes. I have become frustrated with future puppy owners. Many people just don’t understand what they are getting themselves into when purchasing a puppy. This is why a reputable breeder is always where you need to start. The problem is most people don’t even know that.

I am a part of many Great Dane Facebook groups and it is a common occurrence to see someone post a comment stating, “I am looking for a (insert coat) Great Dane if anyone is selling please send a message with pictures and prices.” You have successfully locked yourself into the stupid zone. This from my perspective is just pure laziness. The “I want what I want and I want it now” mentality. So easily, people ignore the repercussions of a purchase from a backyard breeder spanning from behavior to medical issues. Not to mention that backyard breeders do not follow a formal code of ethics or help widen the gene pool so as to avoid health issues of the breed in the future. It is purely driven by money.

What frustrates me even more is when I bring to their attention the proper route to start their adventure into owning a pure bred dog they toss it aside and go right back to the lazy mentality. This makes me feel for their future pup. Why? Because their lack of patience and willingness to do research translates into their dedication, patience, and preparation for owning the breed. If one is not properly prepared to own a giant breed dog such as the Great Dane they are in a load of trouble when it grows up. Then we get to see them turned over to rescues because, “They can’t handle it anymore.”

I urge any, and everyone to take the time to do proper research into the breed, the breeder, and your lifestyle. If we can get people on board with a responsible way of obtaining man’s best friend we can avoid overburdening rescues and traumatizing puppies for no good reason. Puppies are living breathing emotional animals. They are not presents or things to appease yourself like the dirt bike you bought, found out it was hard to ride, and now collects dust in your garage.

The following link has absolutely amazing guidelines for how to find a reputable breeder. Once you find a good breeder they will walk you through everything you need to know and set you up for the best possible chance of success. With hard work and sacrifice comes immense rewards.